The government, however, expects orders to decline 3.9 percent in the July-September quarter.

On balance, the recent economic news has prompted widespread trimming of expectations for the July-September quarter.

And the country's trade deficit rose 33 percent in the July-September quarter, to $20.49 billion, the highest level this year.

For the July-September quarter, Schlumberger earned $196.3 million, or 82 cents a share, on revenues of $1.47 billion.

But corporate profits weakened in the July-September quarter.

Corporate earnings rose by 29% in the July-September quarter of 1983, compared with the same period in 1982.

After taxes, corporate profits rose in the July-September quarter by 3.9 percent compared with 8.9 percent last spring.

Yet inflation still showed no acceleration and, at least by some gauges, slackened a bit during the July-September quarter.

International Japan said its economy grew at annual rate of 8.4 percent in the July-September quarter.

It was the third consecutive improvement and the best pace since the July-September quarter of 1988.